South Africa's KwaZulu-Natal province has been gripped by tension after a spate of violent attacks on foreign nationals forced thousands of people to live in makeshift camps under police protection, media reports said on Sunday.

Additional police forces were deployed around the eastern port city of Durban, and Isipingo, Chatsworth and Umlazi townships where foreigners have been targeted since the last week of March after alleged comments by Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini telling migrants to go home, news24.com reported.

"The police on the ground are working extremely hard to stabilise this violent situation. Criminals have taken advantage (of the situation) and are terrorising communities... the police are committed to arresting those involved. We have identified the instigators and we are busy effecting arrests," national Police Commissioner Riah Phiyega said on Saturday.

Two Somali nationals were critically injured on Friday night when a shop was petrol-bombed in Umlazi town, according to eNCA TV channel.

"On April 9, 2015, four suspects allegedly robbed a supermarket belonging to a foreigner in J Section, Umlazi. A shot was fired and a woman, 24, who was a bystander was shot and taken to hospital where she later died.

"A foreign national was immediately arrested and will be charged with murder. On the same night, more shops were looted at some sections in the Umlazi area and the police stepped in to prevent such criminal activities," Phiyega said.

She said that in Chatsworth a foreign national was arrested for murder and has already appeared in the Chatsworth Magistrates' Court. He was remanded in custody until April 14.

Several foreign-owned shops were looted and foreigners were attacked and driven out of their homes in the port city of Durban, media reports said.

President Jacob Zuma on Friday condemned the violent attacks on foreigners, saying they contributed to the country's development. But he also warned action against illegal immigrants.

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